Come Drink Vizcaya at Brooklyn’s Friendly, Funky Roneria Caracas

Summer is drawing to a close, and that makes people melancholy, even while it sends them to the streets, seeking to wrest just a little more pleasure from this most hedonistic of seasons. If you happen to find yourself in Brooklyn, feeling a little restless and perhaps more than a little thirsty, may we suggest that you head over to Roneria Caracas for a rum flight featuring Vizcaya VXOP?

Located inside Caracas Arepa Bar Brooklyn, Roneria Caracas is an unusual little venue. The atmosphere is casual, funky, colorful and cozy all at once. With aluminum-siding (yes, we said aluminum siding) and plywood (yup, plywood) décor, a chalkboard listing its collection of premium rums, and a clientele that’s largely comprised of indy hipsters in various array of body modification, Roneria Caracas is not the most sophisticated venue in which to enjoy your Vizcaya—but don’t let that stop you.

Not only are their rum flights a fantastic way to venture into the world of “devil water” if you’re not already an aficionado, but the extremely knowledgeable bartenders will be happy to point you in the right direction if you’re looking for a cocktail. In fact, Roneria Caracas has developed a bit of a reputation for creating fresh, fun versions of old favorites—drinks that are at once surprising and true to the spirit of the original. A mojito with just a soupcon of absinthe; an old fashioned with port-marinated blueberries and bay leaf reduction; a pina colada accented with coconut bitters—these are some of the ways that the cocktails of yore are being reimagined by the mixologists at Roneria Caracas. Naturally, the slightly-smoky, honeyed and spiced notes of Vizcaya VXOP would provide an excellent counterpoint to any of these cocktails, as well as excellent enjoyed on its own.

While you’re at Roneria Caracas, make sure to try the speciality of the house at Caracas Arepa, arepas. These pocket-sized flatbreads can be stuffed with meat, chicken, cheeses or combinations of vegetables, and make the perfect snack to pair with a snifter of Vizcaya, or to nibble in between tastes of the rum flight.  If your appetite is already whetted when you arrive, try one of Caracas’s full plates, or order a tableful of arepas, empanadas and delectable side dishes to share.

Weather permitting, enjoy your smooth distinctive Vizcaya on Roneria Caracas’s patio and watch the fascinating parade that the Brooklyn streets provide. Cheers!

Frequently Asked Questions About Rum and Vizcaya VXOP Cask 21 Rum

Q. What is rum made from?
A. Premium rums, like Vizcaya VXOP, are made from the freshly pressed juice of sugar cane. This juice is then fermented, distilled, aged and bottled. Many popular rums that are widely available in both bars and liquor stores in the United States today, however, are made from molasses—which, rather than being produced specifically for the creation of rum, is a byproduct of other processes. Molasses generally results in an inferior product, but when you drink Vizcaya VXOP, you can be assured of experiencing only the highest quality spirits, made from sugar cane harvested at the peak of freshness.

Q. Is all rum aged? Does rum continue to age in the bottle, like fine wine?
A. Not all rum is aged, although most of it is aged in oak barrels to provide a mellow, more elegant taste to what might otherwise be a somewhat raw-tasting tipple. Vizcaya VXOP is aged in select oak barrels that once contained fine bourbons or armagnacs, in order to impart to this distinctive sipping rum a rich, nuanced quality. Most rums are aged before blending, and then bottled. This arrests the aging process, so you can be confident that each glass of Vizcaya will taste as consistently delicious as every other.

Q. What is “rhum agricole” or “methode agricole”?
A. The “methode agricole” is a unique distilling process that can be likened to the “methode champenoise” used to produce fine champagnes. It originally referred to spirits that were produced from freshly squeezed sugar cane juice and distilled to approximately 70 percent alcohol (140 proof) by volume. Rhum agricole, which simply means “agricultural rum,” is in direct contrast to mass-produced industrial rums. Vizcaya VXOP Cask 21 rum, which is painstakingly crafted in the Dominican Republic in the old Cuban style, is a rhum agricole and the ultimate sipping rum.

Q. So what is a sipping rum? Can’t I use Vizcaya with mixers or in cocktails?
A. A sipping rum typically has more complex, refined flavors that are intended to be enjoyed for their own merits, rather than combined with other ingredients that might overpower or obscure them. Sipping rums like Vizcaya are often paired with cigars or food to bring out the rum’s unique characteristics—notes of spice, butterscotch, vanilla, wood smoke and fruit, as well as a warm, inviting bouquet and smooth finish. Considered the ultimate sipping rum, Vizcaya VXOP may be best enjoyed neat, n on the rocks, or with just a splash of water to let its full flavor profile shine through. Nevertheless, we’re not going to tell you that you can’t enjoy Vizcaya as a component of an extraordinary cocktail—make the rum your own and savor it however you wish, as long as you don’t overdo it.

Q. Did pirates really say “Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum”?
A. Probably not. The phrase comes from a fictional sea shanty in Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novel Treasure Island, and has been referenced or used in everything from poems, to television series, to a graphic novel, to a ride at Disneyland. Nevertheless, the tradition of rum drinking aboard ships, whether Navy or pirate, is a long-standing one, and singing “yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum” fits nicely with the romantic vision we have today of brave, seafaring men.

Savor the Culture of Vintage Cuba at Rumbar with Vizcaya VXOP

If you’re looking for a sophisticated, refined yet inviting space in which to enjoy Vizcaya VXOP Cask 21 rum, look no further than Rumbar, located inside Key Biscayne’s Ritz-Carlton. The name of this storied hospitality company is synonymous with luxury and exemplary service, and Rumbar puts a decidedly Latin spin on the Ritz-Carlton’s elegance.

With deep, inviting leather couches and armchairs, crimson walls and rich mahogany woodwork, Rumbar looks every bit the gentleman’s club. The atmosphere is genteel and relaxed—perfect for kicking back to savor the spice and complexity of Vizcaya. Rumbar also has a humidor that boasts an extensive collection of cigars for your smoking pleasure.

Despite its decidedly vintage feel—Rumbar reminds patrons not just of Hemingway, as so many Cuban-inspired rum-friendly establishments do, but also, with its slowly turning wooden ceiling fans, of Bogey and Bacall—the small plates offered by Rumbar’s kitchen have a decidedly modern feel. Choose from short-rib sliders topped with goat cheese mousse and arugula, yuca fries with a creamy chimichurri dipping sauce, or a Caribbean pineapple pizza with cilantro. The classic Cuban sandwich composed of ham, pork, pickles and cheese, the Media Noche, is reworked as a panini. Key lime pie is topped with mango coulis in a delicious marriage of two tropical flavors.

As you would expect at a such a delightfully old-school bar, there is a comprehensive list of cocktails, ranging from time-honored standards like daiquiris, mojitos and caipirinhas, to innovative specialty martinis. The true rum lover, however, will probably bypass these in favor of a vertical rum flight—or possibly a tasting of his own devising. It’s also possible to rent one of Rumbar’s VIP rum lockers, in order to store your own personal bottle of Vizcaya VXOP.

Make sure to check out Rumbar on Saturday nights, when Grupo Nostalgia, a four-piece Latin music group, will truly transport you and your date to Old Havana. Any night of the week, however, is a perfect night to sit back and enjoy a cigar as the friendly bartender pours you a neat Vizcaya, at Key Biscayne’s upscale destination for the enjoyment of rum and Cuban culture.

Photograph courtesy of K. Hurley

What Cigar Do You Like To Pair Vizcaya VXOP With?

As with any pairing—wine and cheese, rum and food, music and mood, even peanut butter and jelly—the pairing of spirits and cigars is largely a subjective matter. What appeals or seems ideal to one man could well be a total turn-off for another, although it’s likely that they would all agree that at least half the fun is in the pursuit of a classic combination. If you enjoy Vizcaya VXOP Cask 21 rum, and if you are a cigar smoker, it’s likely that you will already have done some experimentation to find your favorite cigar to pair with the ultimate sipping rum. Nevertheless, we are pleased to present a basic guide to rum and cigar pairing.

Rum and cigars are a natural match, simply because they are both traditionally produced in the same regions of the world. Just as vegetables that ripen concurrently in a particular climate tend to go well together, so the spicy, smoky flavors of rum tend to complement the warm and complex notes of a good cigar. Of course, the fact that both promote relaxation is not to be ignored, and for many cigar and rum aficionados, the very act of pouring that glass of Vizcaya and lighting up might produce a Pavlovian effect, allowing you to kick back and savor the moment thoroughly.

The first rule of thumb when choosing a cigar to puff with your Vizcaya is to choose one with an equally robust flavor profile. Vizcaya VXOP, after all, has a depth and intensity that works well with  many cigars. Its weight of flavor, which comes from having been distilled with real sugar cane and then aged in oaken barrels, requires a cigar that is also substantial enough to create some balance between the two indulgences.

That said, there are times when contrast becomes harmonious. As long as the cigar won’t pale in comparison to your neat or on-the-rocks Vizcaya, or vice-versa, choosing a particularly smooth and sweet cigar will provide a tasteful counterpoint. The notes of brown sugar, butterscotch, vanilla and maple in Vizcaya will sing more prominently when echoed by a rum that exhibits characters of sweetness. moke loves sweetness. Think of the way barbecue sauces often incorporate an element of sweet, fruity flavor that is tempered and deepened by the smoke of the grill.

Yet even a drier, more savory cigar can complement Vizcaya VXOP nicely, by playing up the rum’s substantial spice elements. You might notice a new element—say, clove or black pepper, oak, raisin or molasses—when enjoying a medium-bodied cigar, which wasn’t apparent just moments ago, before you lit up.

Vizcaya’s refined, intricate taste profile can be enjoyed on its own merits, or amplified by your favorite cigar. We think that the attempt to find the perfect marriage of a cigar with Vizcaya VXOP Cask 21 rum is a task well worth pursuing, and we invite you to share some of your favorite cigars in the comment.

Photo courtesy of Alex Brown

Calling All Rum Enthusiasts! Join Vizcaya in San Francisco

Miss Pearl's Jam House

This weekend marks one of the most anticipated events in the rum enthusiast’s yearly calendar: the San Francisco Bay Ministry of Rum Festival 2010. Hosted at Miss Pearl’s Jam House, located in the Waterfront Hotel in Oakland, CA, this event gathers together rum lovers from around the around the globe to celebrate their favorite spirit.

This year’s festival marks the second appearance of Barrie Lynn, the Cheese Impresario. Barrie will show festival goers that the pairing of rum and artisanal cheeses, while unorthodox, can be absolutely delicious. This event proved very popular at last year’s festival, so you won’t want to miss Barrie’s return or any of her delectable pairings.

After partaking of cheese, taste sugar cane spirits from many different makers, including Vizcaya VXOP Cask 21 Cuban-Style rum. Also on hand will be some of the Bay area’s most respected and experienced mixologists, who will be whipping up rum-based cocktails, both classics and modern drinks.

Of course, you’ll also be able to wax enthusiastic about Vizcaya with fellow aficionados, including Edward Hamilton–considered the world’s top authority on all things rummy and the man behind the Ministry of Rum. All in all, the 2010 San Francisco Bay Ministry of Rum Festival promises to be a rollicking good time that will both educate and entertain all comers.

The festival will be held Sunday, August 8, 2010, beginning at 1:00pm for VIPs and press, then open to the general public from 2:00pm-5:00pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door on a cash-only basis, and are $50 per person.

We’ll see you there!